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Buying a personal printer today involves making not one choice but several in an increasingly crowded market. Prices range from under $100 to over $1,000. You can buy a standard printer, a dedicated photo printer, or an all-in-one (also called a multifunction printer). Then there's the choice of technology: ink jet or laser, monochrome or color. And personal printers aren't even necessarily personal: Some are more office-oriented, with network connections built in.

First, you'll need to decide on the type of machine you want: a standard ink jet for reasonable photos and a low purchase price, a photo ink jet for superior photo quality, a monochrome laser for text-heavy jobs, or a color laser if you need good text and color graphics and have at least $700 for the initial purchase.

Once that's done, your next step is to decide between a dedicated printer and an MFP. If you need to print from more than one computer, consider connecting the printer to a network with either a wired or a wireless connection.

We realize that's a lot to sort out, so on the next page we offer a checklist to help you decide which features of a given printer category best apply to your needs. Go ahead: Find the printer that's right for you.

About the Author

M. David Stone is an award-winning freelance writer and computer industry consultant. Although a confirmed generalist, with writing credits on subjects as varied as ape language experiments, politics, quantum physics, and an overview of a top company in the gaming industry. David is also an expert in imaging technologies (including printers, moni... See Full Bio

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